Improvement in breech-loading ordnance



.2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D TUI'TS Bljeeoh-Loading Ordnance.

IIIIIIIIII gallir/.ft

s 'Ali l n lili.

06m; .2' fx1/Mk1.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. I

5 D. TUFTS, Breeoh-Loading Ordnance.l

Patented May 14, 1878.

N. PETERS. FHOTOJJTHOGRA Z-ZZTLeSS Md/M DAVID TUrrs, or PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

`Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 203,795', dated May 14, 1878; application filed March 15, 1878.

To all whom it may concern: y

Be it known that I, DAVIADTUFTS, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, lhave invented certainy new and., useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Guns; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will, enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and, uSethe same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification..

Figure 1 is a side elevation of breech; Fig. 2, a rear end' View; Fig. 3, a detail; Fig. 4, two perspectives of breech-block; Fig. 5, Va horizontal section of breech-block; Fig. .6, a vertical transverse sect-ion of same 5 Fig. 7, a longitudinal vertical section of gunand breech mechanism; Fig. 8, details; 'Fig. 9, enlarged n detail of Fig.l 7 Fig. l0, a perspective of sliding wedge-block; Fig. 11 2 1 similar ,view of valve and stem; Fig. 12, a face view of valve.

- 4 This invention relates to f improvements in breech-loading ordnance, particularlyof that class in whichthe breech-block has transverse motionacross ,the breech; 'and consistsy 'in providing thebreech-block with a movable valve andthe gun with a seat for the same; also', in giving such valve positive motion backward and forward, and in the mechanism therefor; and in the construction and combination of parts, all substantially as hereinafter fully described andclaimed. I

I n the class of ordnance referred yto it has been found impossible, to so fit the parts as to prevent the retroaction of the gases evolved in the discharge, which, besides diminishing the range and penetrative power, also soil 'and clog up the mechanism ofthe breech in a most inconvenient manner. To remedy this, the gas-check has beenadopted, acopper or other metallic shell filling up the inner end of the bore and compelling the gases to pass out at the muzzle. This is effective, but expensive, as, once used, the shell is no longer serviceable, and, besides beingexpensive, necessitates the carrying of a great extra Weight. I aim to do away with all this expense and trouble, and by mechanical means so close the breech that no gas can escape, and this withwith the ordinary woolen bag, or even the bare powder'.

A designates the gun, having the loadingaperture Bin its rear end and a transverse opening for the breech-block C, which is of the usual form in outline, and has the attached face-plate D, as shown. In thel gun A, on the 3 forward face of the opening and around the bore, and larger in diameter, is a circular groove, a, as seen in Figs. 7 and 9.

Set into a suitable opening in the front` of breech-block C is' a. reciprocating valve, E, whose face has an annular ridge, b, corresponding to the'groove a, the two fitting accurately, and. ground together toinsure perfectcontact all around. In this manner the plainjportion of the face of valve E operates toclose the breech; but, as such closure does not prevent the escape of gas, I have an effectual check for it in the ridge b and groove a, since the ridge projets beyond the valveface, and, itting accurately in the groove, the sinuous junction thus presented places an impassable obstaclel to the further travel of the gases, if they get that far.

i The stein F of valve E passes back in the breech-block to a rectangular opening, o, cut laterally into block C from face-plate D. Stem F has its rear end inclined, and is provided with a similarly-inclined dovetail tongue, d. A sliding block, G, fits accuratelyl in opening c, and has its forward face inclined, except at the edges, which remain parallel with its rear face, so that the blocks edges accurately fit the opening, and has a dovetail -groove,'the whole face accurately corresponding to the rear` face of stem F, so that when `block G moves to one side valve E is pushed forward, and when block G moves to the other side valve E is withdrawn by the tongue and groove. This motion of block G is effected by having a screw-thread(preferably left-handed) cut in its bottom portion, and in this is iitted a long u left-handed screw-shaft, H, having a bearing, e, at its inner endin the breech-block, and the double collar f g, respectively, inside and outsidethe face-plate D, and furnished with a handle, I, at its outer extremity.

Shaft H, having no end motion, byrevolving, causesthe block G to travel back and forth in out the use of a metallic shell of any kind, but opening c, and thus valve E is caused to open or close against its seat in the gun. To prevent accident to the valve in traveling and danger from recoil in firing, I provide means for locking in both positions, which, simultaneously therewith, locks the breech-block in position. In collar g of shaft H I make two notches, so situated that one or the other will come uppermost when the valve is opened or closed. In the face of breech-block C is an opening, in which slides the latch-bolt 7L, whose rear end is half cut away and provided with a slot, k. Passing through the face-plate D at right angies to bolt la is a pin, m, having on its inner end the eccentrically-placed stud n, which plays in slot k, and the rotation of pin m thus causes the shooting of bolt h, to receive which a recess is cut in the gun, so that when it is home the breech-block is locked firmly. On the outer end of pin m I fix the latch p in such manner that when it is vertical the bolt his withdrawn, and when horizontal the breech-block is locked. But in so locking the breech-block a detent, r, on latch p falls into one ofthe notches in collar g, whereby the block G and valve E are also at the same time locked either in closed or open position. The latch p is supported by a spring, s.

Operation: Suppose the breech is, as shown by Fig. 2, in firing position, and locked, as in Figs. 3 and 5. Latch p is raised to vertical,

releasing shaft H and withdrawing bolt hf Then handle I is turned to the left as far as it will go, thereby withdrawing valvev E into the breech-block. Next the breech-block is pulled back till its loading-aperture K is in line with opening Bin gun A. Its motion is limited by a pin, t, in the top of the gun, and a groove, t, in the top of breech-block C. The upper end of pin t is wrought into a rear sight, W, as shown. When the loading is complete the breech-block C is pushed back to place, handle I turned to the right till valve E is home tight to its seat; then latch p is depressed to horizontal, thus locking the breech-block, while its detent 1^ locks the shaft H. In now firing the charge not a particle of gas can escape at the breech, because, while the plain face of the valve closes the breech as far as practicable against the escape of too much gas, the ridge b, fitting so accurately in groove c, absolutely prevents the outcoming of any gas whatever, and this is a result which cannot be accomplished by any plain-faced valve or plug without the use of a gas-checking shell behind the charge, and no spring can occur, as the valve is backed by solid metal all 'the way.

By this means any form of charge may be used without any necessity for copper or other metallic gas-checks, thus obviating one great expense 'and inconvenience.

rlhe movable valve is equally applicable to breech-loading small-arms.

I have herein shown what I believe is the pleasure.

I claim as my inventionl. In breech-loading ordnance of that class in which Athe breech is closed by the advancement of a plug or valve, an annular ridge projecting beyond the plane of the valve-face and a corresponding groove cut in the valve-seat in the gim, both ridge and groove being wholly without the circumference of the bore, substantially as described, whereby the valve operates to close the breech for firing and the ridge and groove operate independently to check the escape of gases.

2. The combination of the breech-block C, having rectangular recess c entering it laterally, the valve E, reciprocating at right angles to the recess c, and having the rear of its stem inclined, and the block G, having its forward surface correspondingly inclined, as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination of the 'breech-block C, having the laterally-extending recess c, the valve E, reciproca-ting at right angles to the recess c, and having the rear of its stem inclined, and the block G, having its front edges parallel with its rear edges and the space or front between said edges inclined, substantially as described.

4. The combination of valve E, having in clined rear surface and inclined dovetailed tongue, with the in clined faced block G, having inclined dovetail groove, whereby the movement of block G opens the valve.

5. The combination of latch p, pin m, stud n, cut-away and slotted bolt h in the breechblock with a suitable recess in the gun, substantially as described.

6. The combination of bolt 7L, pin m, stud n, latch p, and its detent r with the notched collar g, substantially as described, for the simultaneous locking of both valve and breechblock.

7. The combination of valve E, stem F, and block G with the recessed breech-block C and gun A, substantially as described, whereby in firing the valve is solidly supported.

8. In combination with the valve E, the sliding block G, having one face inclined, the breech-block C, having lateral recess c, and the revolvingscrew H, said block G being wholly Within the breech-block, and said screw H secured against end motion, all arranged and operating substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID TUFTS. Witnesses:

Jus. HEMPHILL, R. WATSON. 

